The Red Button. But maybe a different approach...

[Merkwurdigliebe]

I know, the moment I state this opinion I provoke hostility and goodwill both at a time...

I've read a few statements about the Red Button idea... none of them satisfied me, personally. Because the possible strategies in Defcon do not allow much change.

But, maybe, the red button thingie could serve well as an option both to the enemies and friends of this idea:

First of all, there are three items on the Defcon map that can launch nukes:
Bombers,
Submarines
and Silos.

These three have other duties to do, however, and take time to switch between modes.
Simply pressing a red button so that everything starts preparing for launch and launches isn't what we all think is best. Some may think, but I don't.

But, one could add one more option to the modes of the different units:
A "Retaliation Readiness (&nukes to go)" mode or whatever it be called.
Selecting this mode takes the unit half of the time of an ICBM launch mode switch, but also would take some time to go back into the other useful modes (Air Defense, Naval combat, etc.). Having selected Retaliation Readiness, you can select targets like you do in SRBM/MRBM/ICBM Launch Mode, but the nukes won't be launched until you press the red button.
So, having preprogrammed your targets, you can EITHER use the red button or the standard procedures (SRBM/MRBM/ICBM Mode switch, selecting targets) already known to all of us.

Pressing the red button would still take the units some time to be prepared. Maybe the time for every unit until it can launch its first retaliation strike should be the same, so that a retaliation strike is really all-nukes-at-the-same-time for the FIRST nukes they all launch. For more than first-launch nukes, Silos and Subs need different time to prepare, and the bomber is empty after one launch.

This would need another implementation: Bombers on Hold. Bombers should be able to be assigned a hold pattern which they circle around until they are needed for any purpose, so they are ready in the air. Ok, Defcon is not an RTS but an Arcade game, but would this do any harm to gameplay???

Another possibility would be a cancelling button (the GREEN one???) which cancels all Retaliation Readiness orders, switching all units back to their default modes. As stated, this takes some time, either.

Critics welcome, but I won't listen to you who do not want this at all. I'm talking about IF it's being added to Defcon. On the other hand, why should you even care? It's an optional feature that wouldn't change anything but a small red button in the main interface and another line in the units' context menu.

[helphelphelp]

no. i like to micromanage my nuke launches. i hate that idea. sorry

[KingAl]

no. i like to micromanage my nuke launches. i hate that idea. sorry

Please don't post in old threads - believe me, people have already thoroughly condemned the 'Red Button' idea.

[Merkwurdigliebe]

Please people... if you comment, make sure you have read. I tried to make a different apporoach here, which leaves both micromanaging and the red button idea to us. But of course you can write your critique afterwards

[Darksun]

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[Montyphy]

Translation?

[KingAl]

Translation?

The alphabet! Hooray!

But more importantly, stabby.

[LordSturm]

Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stab Stabbity! Stabbity Stabbity! Stabbity! Stab stab stab! Stab Stabbity! Stab! Stabbity stab! Stab stab!

Clearly morsecode for "I think this idea is bad."

Well thanks for sharing your viewpoint on the matter. <_<

[xander]

Clearly morsecode for "I think this idea is bad."

Well thanks for sharing your viewpoint on the matter. <_<

No, it is code written in the programming language BrainStab. I believe it prints the alphabet.

xander

[Allingstan_Empire]

if your going to say nothing but stab, at least give a reasonable.. reason. I think its a good idea, I really dont get why most people in these forums seem closed-minded. It would make much more sense if you could give them their targets THEN tell them to fire after. Its not like its impossible for the president to say "standby" and all he can say is "fire" and he has to order every submarine, silo, bomber, ect. very quickly so they all launch at once.

[NeSS]

You aren't the president. More a general. The president is the one moving the Defense Condition closer to war. (DefCon)

[MoonHill]

I think its a good idea, I really dont get y every1 in this forums seems closed-minded.

Sorry, you just lost any chance of me actually listening to what you have to say.

[xyzyxx]

Actually, I must agree. The actions of selecting targets and firing missiles is currently one command.

I think I should be able to tell my units to aim for the target I specify, but not fire until I say so.